CERC Migration Journalism Fellowship program

CERC Migration is pleased to introduce its inaugural journalism fellowship program.  Journalists who would like to deepen their professional knowledge about immigration and migrant integration research are invited to apply for a one-month residency with CERC Migration at Toronto Metropolitan University. 

The CERC Migration Journalism Fellowship promotes collaboration and knowledge transfer between researchers and Canadian and international journalists to strengthen the communication of evidence-based knowledge about migration and integration issues. The fellowship provides a unique professional development opportunity for journalists (digital, print, radio or TV) to gain the latest research insights in migration research. During their residency, they will have the opportunity to conduct their own field research project and to connect with an expert team of Canadian and international researchers and local stakeholders. Fellows will be encouraged to interact with researchers to examine how journalism practice intersects with research and ways in which researchers can best work with media to communicate research insights. There is no expectation that journalists will produce stories about TMU during or after their residency.

Who can apply?

The program is open to staff and freelance journalists who regularly cover politics, society, culture or the economy, related to national or international issues. The applicant must have a minimum of five years of media work experience, with examples of work that cover complex issues that are international in scope. Applicants should include in their application what areas of the field of migration is of interest to them.

What does the Fellowship entail?  

A successful Fellow would be expected to participate in a residency in Toronto for a consecutive period of 20 to 35 days between March 1 and November 30, 2025 (excluding July and August). The Fellowship includes the following:

• a stipend, including a travel allowance, to contribute to expenses related to the stay for a total value of $4,000 CAD
• an academic host, selected from the CERC Migration research team
• access to an office space and resources that are available in the CERC Migration facility
• networking and professional development through participation in CERC Migration’s research events and workshops.

How to apply?

Interested applicants must apply, using the online portal below, no later than November 1, 2024.

The application should include:

1) a short CV (maximum four pages)

2) a cover letter (maximum two pages) describing the following: 

• the motivation for your residency and how it will benefit your work as a journalist.
• which CERC Migration research themes, or existing project are of most interest to your work or research, and why.
• a description of your proposed activities during your stay (e.g., to conduct field research, provide a media training presentation, lead a workshop on your research project, or engage with local organizations/stakeholders).
• which member of the CERC Migration research team that you would like to work with as your proposed academic host (please provide a first and second choice). Note: Anna Triandafyllidou is not available to act as host. We will make the best effort to match you to the host of your choice; however, a host will be assigned based on their availability, at the discretion of CERC Migration.
• your proposed dates for the visit. The residency should take place for 20 to 35 consecutive days, between March 1 and November 30, 2025, excluding July and August.

3)  additional documents to include in your application:

• two or three relevant work samples (please upload all written samples in PDF format); for other digital content, please provide links
• an optional recommendation letter from a supervisor/editor at a media outlet that has published or produced your work.

When will candidates be selected

Successful candidate will be notified by January 2025.

For questions, please email cerc.migration@torontomu.ca, indicating Journalism Fellowship program in the subject line.